Systems and methods for the injection of viscoelastic fluid

Abstract

A system that provides for multiple viscoelastic container support and adjustment of a less full container with a fuller container to facilitate, for example, a continuous supply of a protective viscoelastic fluid into the anterior chamber of the eye with minimal operator disruption. The system provides for delivering viscoelastic material to an eye though use of a controlled driver driving a transmission that is in driving communication with an actuator for forcing viscoelastic fluid material from one of a plurality of containers. A viscoelastic material support assembly, which includes a multiple viscoelastic material container retention supporting structure and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the retention supporting structure relative to the actuator into an injection capable setting, operates to supply a desired amount of viscoelastic material to the eye chamber. The system includes inputs, automated corrections, and visual interaction. Also provided are methods for using the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for delivering viscoelastic material to an eye, comprising:
 a driver,   a transmission in driving communication with the driver,   an actuator in driving communication with the transmission, and   a viscoelastic material support assembly which includes a multiple viscoelastic material container retention supporting structure and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the retention supporting structure relative to the actuator into an injection capable setting.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller to activate the driver upon the adjustment mechanism aligning one of a plurality of container supports of the retention supporting structure into the injection capable setting. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a manual push-pull member connected with the container retention supporting structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the container retention supporting structure includes a plurality of cradles each configured to receive a respective one of a plurality of viscoelastic material containers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the cradles are dimensioned to receive syringe shaped viscoelastic material containers having plungers extending out from fluid containing cylinders. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the retention supporting structure includes a plurality of support blocks that include slide tracking for side-to-side adjustment based on positioning of the push-pull member. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the retention supporting structure includes a plurality of support blocks that include slide tracking for side-to-side adjustment based on positioning of the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein each support block has a universal configuration relative to another support block of said support blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a housing wherein said housing includes a slide track on which the container retention supporting structure slides. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator includes a base part and a projection part wherein the projection part is configured for abutment with a plunger portion of a viscoelastic material container aligned by the adjustment mechanism for emptying. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the transmission includes a linear screw assembly to which the actuator is movably connected. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is adjustable in a longitudinal direction transverse to the side-to-side slide direction of the container retention supporting structure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller in position communicating with the actuator, and said controller having an actuator position monitoring unit that monitors actuator position and conveys that information indicative as to container fill level to the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a visualization system in communication with the controller, and which visualization system has a fill level designation section that conveys a fill level of one or more of the containers. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  where in the fill level designation section conveys the fill level of each of multiple containers supported by the container retention supporting structure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller and wherein the driver is an electric motor that communicates torque level data of the motor and conveys that torque information as to pressure levels of viscoelastic fluid being fed by actuator movement by the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the retention supporting structure includes multiple cradles for supporting viscoelastic containers which are emptied in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the retention supporting structure includes base blocks which support said cradles and each include a slide configuration for sliding in a side-to-side direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         18 . A system for delivering viscoelastic material to and eye comprising:
 driving means for providing driving forces,   an actuator which receives the driving forces,   supporting means for supporting a plurality of containers,   adjustment means for adjusting the supporting means to multiple positions in a desired container in position for actuator adjustment.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a visualization system showing which container is adjusted for immediate dispensing and the relative fill level for each of the multiple containers. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a visualization system showing the relative fill level of the multiple containers and the adjustment means being adjustable to place a more full container in place of a less full container in alignment with an actuator of the actuation means. 
     
     
         21 . A method of delivering viscoelastic material utilizing the system of  claim 1 , comprising adjusting the retention support structure as to move a less full viscoelastic material container from an actuator alignment position to another location while bringing a more full viscoelastic material container into the actuator alignment position.